Method for concurrent multiple services in a mobile communication system

ABSTRACT

A method for providing concurrent service in a mobile communication system is disclosed in which a SCCP connection identifier SLR/DLR of a lower layer and a Service Option Connection Identifier (SOCI) on an IOS message of the higher layer to be exchanged are transmitted when a SCCP connection is established between a BSC and a MSC, thereby providing additional services to those already requested from a mobile station after the SCCP connection establishment without stopping a currently used service. According to the method, the concurrent service is provided while minimizing the conventional call processing procedures on the interface between the BSC and the MSC, thereby allowing a subscriber to use new additional service without stopping the current service or concurrently use a plurality of services such as voice and packet data services. Furthermore, a flexible confront is possible to a future development direction of the network. Providing concurrent service is an essential function of the third generation mobile communication network in a multimedia environment

Priority of Provisional Application Ser. No. 06/278,002, filed on Mar.23, 2001 is claimed under 35 U.S.C. 119(e), the entire disclosure ofwhich is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a mobile communication system, and inparticular, to a method for concurrent multiple services on theinterfaces between a BSC (Base Station Controller) and a MSC (MobileSwitching Center).

2. Background of the Related Art

As widely known in the prior art, a digital mobile communication networksuch as a Digital Cellular Network (DCN) or a Personal CommunicationsService (PCS), which are second generation mobile communication systems,can provide only one service to one mobile station at the same time andalso can process only one service in a call processing mechanism forservice. Therefore, a specific service in use can be switched intoanother type of service through service negotiation on the radiointerface and call processing, but the current service would inevitablybe stopped.

Concurrent service is a function in which a subscriber can be furtherprovided with a new service while using the current service, withoutinterrupting the current service. The subscriber can therefore beprovided with a plurality of services, including voice and data service,at the same time. The concurrent service, however, cannot be provided bythe call processing mechanisms and procedures provided by thesecond-generation mobile communication system such as DCN or PCS.

At present, the method for providing concurrent multiple services in acdma2000 system is limited to the TIA/EIA/IS-2000A, which is a cdma2000radio interface standard. However, a method for controlling concurrentservice in the BSC and the MSC has not yet been defined. The proceduresand message structures related to the concurrent service in theinterface between the BSC and the MSC are not defined either.

Hereinafter, the procedures between the mobile station and the basestation and the base station controller are assumed to follow theTIA/EIA/IS-2000A standard, thereby omitting a detailed descriptionthereof, for the purpose of explanation.

FIG. 1 shows a related art method for setting No. 7 SCCP (SignalingConnection Control Part) connection between a BSC and a MSC.

Referring to FIG. 1, the current second generation digital mobilecommunication system is required to follow the call setup procedurescorresponding to each service including voice, data, etc., to provide aspecific single service. In particular, the system sets up one No. 7SCCP for a call to provide the requested service, and discriminates thecorresponding mobile station with SLR/DLR (Source/Destination LocalReference Number) allocated thereto to control the service between theBSC and the MSC.

Specifically, upon receiving an Origination/Page Response message on theradio interface that initiates the mobile originating/terminating callsetup procedure, the BSC allocates a No. 7 SLR to uniquely identify thesignaling connection in the interface between BSC and MSC, andconstructs a Complete Layer 3 Information message, including a CM(Connection Management) Service Request/Page Response message in the IOS(Inter-Operability Specification) for initializing call processing of acorresponding mobile station. Then, the BSC transmits the No. 7 SCCPConnection Request message, including an IOS Complete Layer 3Information message and SLR, to the MSC for the establishment of an SCCPsignaling connection (S10).

When the BSC receives a SCCP Connection-Confirm message for confirmingthe SCCP connection establishment from the MSC, the SCCP signalingconnection for the corresponding mobile station is completelyestablished on the interface between the BSC and the MSC. Here, the SCCPConnection-Confirm message includes the connection SLR/DLR, which hasbeen maintained until a service to the terminal is stopped and isapplied to control the call (S11). It is the responsibility of the BSCand MSC to insure that no two calls have identical SCCP local referencenumbers.

FIG. 2 shows a related art method for using the No. 7 SCCP connectionSLR/DLR between the BSC and the MSC.

FIG. 2 describes additional detail of the control message for thecorresponding mobile station, which includes the SCCP connectionidentifier SLR/DLR in the previously established SCCP connection state.As shown in FIG. 2, the control message transmitted from the MSC to theBSC includes the SLR (SC)/DLR (BSC), and the control message transmittedfrom the BSC to the MSC includes the SCCP connection SLR/DLR, which arecomposed of SLR (BSC)/DLR (MSC).

FIG. 3 shows a related art method for controlling concurrent service. asshown in FIG. 3, each mobile station MSi˜MSn must set up individualcalls to the BSC 102 for each requested service CON.REF 1˜CON.REF 6. TheBSC 102, however, only sets up one connection identifier to the MSC 103for each mobile station.

Providing the current service using the foregoing second generationmobile communication system has various problems. For example, when amethod for controlling the concurrent service by a conceptual callprocessing model for single service in the mobile communication systemaccording to the related art as shown in FIG. 3 is used, the mobilestation requires one call for each service. Assuming that one mobilestation has the capability of setting up a maximum of 6 servicessimultaneously, the calls are identified in the base station/basestation controller using an identifier such as sr_id or CON.REF on theradio interface. Though the base station/base station controller 102 cancontrol each service option like this, the call control between the BSCand the MSC uses only one SCCP connection identifier (SLR/DLR),regardless of the number of services that one mobile station can make.In other words, if one service is being used, support of that service isstopped to switch to a new requested service, or the call setup requestfor the new requested service is rejected.

Thus, there is no identifier of each service for one mobile station inthe current IOS call setup messages, such as Connection Management (CM)Service Request/Page Response and messages related to supplementaryservices between the BSC and the MSC of the conventional digitalcellular (second generation) mobile communication system. The call iscontrolled using the SCCP connection identifier (SLR/DLR) allocated tothe corresponding mobile station in the initial call setup for theservice.

In short, the second generation mobile communication system uses adimensional single service control method, in which the call iscontrolled on the basis of the mobile station. That is, the mobilestation, the call, and the service are conceptually identified as asingle event. Therefore, one mobile station cannot be provided with aplurality of services at the same time. Additionally, the currentservice must be stopped to provide another service, though a serviceswitching can be carried out by the service negotiation on the radiointerface.

The above references are incorporated by reference herein whereappropriate for appropriate teachings of additional or alternativedetails, features and/or technical background.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the invention is to solve at least the above problemsand/or disadvantages and to provide at least the advantages describedhereinafter.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a method forconcurrent service in a third generation mobile communication system,that substantially obviates problems caused by disadvantages of therelated art.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a method forconcurrent service in a third generation mobile communication system,that provides one subscriber with a plurality of services includingvoice, circuit data, packet data, facsimile data, etc. in a mobilecommunication system for providing various multimedia services. Thepresent invention is applicable to the third generation mobilecommunication system (IMT-2000) specification of 3GPP2 (Third GenerationPartnership Project 2) centered to North America.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a method forconcurrent service with the addition of a Service Option ConnectionIdentifier (SOCI) as a service identifier to IOS messages of the higherlayer, and using the SOCI with the existing SCCP (Signaling ConnectionControl Part) connection identifier of a lower layer to discriminate theservice in one mobile station established between a BSC and a MSC,thereby providing further services which are additionally requested froma mobile station after the SCCP connection establishment withoutstopping a currently used service.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a method forconcurrent service in a CDMA mobile communication system in which aservice option release procedure is added instead of a mobile stationoption release procedure when a release is requested on a currentservice from a mobile station or a switching station.

It is another object of the invention to provide a method for concurrentservice in a CDMA mobile communication, in which the mobile station canreceive a receiving packet data without stopping a voice call serviceeven if the receiving packet data is generated from a network side whenthe packet data service is dormant and the voice call is inconversation.

In order to achieve at least these objects, in whole or in parts, thereis provided a method for concurrent service in mobile communicationsystems, in which each subscriber communicates with another subscriberincluding the subscriber belonging to another service provider via aMSC, comprising setting up at least one call for each subscriber; andproviding multiple communication services simultaneously to each of thesubscribers by using service identifier SOCI allocated to each call foreach service including the case of one call and an SCCP signalingconnection identifier SLR/DLR for discrimination of each subscriberuniquely.

Herein, the BSC preferably allocates a SOCI as the identifier of a callor service and an SCCP connection identifier SLR/DLR dedicated to aspecific mobile station when the communication service is the firstrequested from this mobile station to the BSC.

The allocating step preferably comprises transmitting a call setupmessage from the BSC to the MSC when the BSC receives a request forcommunication service from the mobile station or the MSC; the initialcall setup message then requests a call setup procedure from the mobilestation or MSC; and further the originating call setup message is a CMService Request message, and the terminating call setup message is aPage Response message.

To further achieve at least the above objects, in whole or in parts,there is provided a method for providing concurrent service incommunication systems comprising allocating a connection identifier(SOCI) for each of a plurality of services in a BSC to concurrentlyaccept the plurality of services on a single logical signalingconnection; and independently controlling each service connectionbetween the BSC and a MSC by using information about each of theservices and the SOCI of each service.

Herein, the logical signaling connection is preferably a SCCP signalingconnection established between the BSC and the MSC, and a call controland supplementary service message is transmitted from the BSC to the MSCor from the MSC to the BSC and includes the SOCI when requested for anadditional call control message and supplementary service messages froma specific mobile station after the SCCP connection is established.

Preferably, the additional call control message transmitted from the BSCto the MSC is selected from a group including a Connect message,reporting that a conversation state is set up in the mobile station, aProgress message, instructing the mobile station to produce or clear alocal tone, and a Rejection message, reporting that the mobile stationhas rejected a Command message. The supplementary service messagetransmitted between BSC and MSC is preferably selected from a groupincluding a Flash-with-Information message, reporting additional serviceinformation of the mobile station, and a Flash-with-InformationAcknowledgment message, that acknowledges the Flash-with-Informationmessage.

The service connection identifier SOCI preferably has an A1 elementidentifier field, length field, service option connection identifierfield and a reserved bit field.

To further achieve the above objects, in whole or in parts, there isprovided a method for concurrent service, comprising allocating a SOCIfor an additional service if the additional service is requested while aservice is being used on a logical signaling connection; and performingan additional service connection setup on the logical signalingconnection by using information about the additional service and theSOCI of the additional service.

To further achieve the above objects, in whole or in parts, there isprovided a method for concurrent service in mobile communication systemsin which each subscriber communicates with another subscriber or anotherservice provider via a MSC, comprising setting up at least one call fora first subscriber; if data should be transmitted from a secondsubscriber via a dormant call from the at least one call which is setup, activating the dormant call by using an identifier of the firstsubscriber and an identifier of the dormant call; and transmitting thedata from the second subscriber to the first subscriber via theactivated call.

Additional advantages, objects, and features of the invention will beset forth in part in the description which follows and in part willbecome apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art uponexamination of the following or may be learned from practice of theinvention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realizedand attained as particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described in detail with reference to thefollowing drawings in which like reference numerals refer to likeelements wherein:

FIG. 1 is a drawing illustrating a method for establishment of No. 7SCCP connection between a BSC and a MSC according to the related art;

FIG. 2 is a drawing illustrating a method for using the No. 7 SCCPconnection SLR/DLR between the BSC and the MSC according to the relatedart;

FIG. 3 is a drawing illustrating a conceptual view showing a related artcall control method in a mobile communication system;

FIG. 4 is a drawing illustrating a conceptual view showing a callcontrol method for a concurrent service in a mobile communication systemaccording to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating a call setup for a concurrentservice in a mobile communication system according to a preferredembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating a call release for a concurrentservice in a mobile communication system according to a preferredembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a drawing illustrating the structure of a SOCI according to apreferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a drawing illustrating a call setup procedure in which apacket data service is requested in addition to a current service usedby a mobile station according to a preferred embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 9 is a drawing illustrating a call setup procedure in which a voicecall service is requested in addition to a current service used by amobile station according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 10 is a drawing illustrating a call setup procedure in which areceiving voice call service is requested in addition to a currentservice used by a mobile station according to a preferred embodiment ofthe invention;

FIG. 11 is a drawing illustrating a call release procedure in which aspecific service is released from a mobile station which is underconcurrent service according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 12 is a drawing illustrating a call release procedure in which aspecific service is released from a switching station which is underconcurrent service according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;and

FIG. 13 is a drawing illustrating a procedure of reactivating areceiving packet data in a mobile station in which a packet data call isdormant and a voice call is activated according to a preferredembodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

To provide concurrent service, a multimedia call processing model isproposed that separates a mobile station from a call or a service fortwo dimensional processing, thereby satisfying a third generationcommunication system environment. Also, a method is proposed thatintroduces a high layer service identifier SOCI (service optionconnection identifier) above the low layer signaling connection (SCCPconnection) identifier SLR/DLR for mobile station dedicated signalingcontrol between a BSC and a MSC, and adds the SOCI to IOS call controlmessages to process the multimedia call, thereby providing theconcurrent service to one mobile station.

Referring to FIG. 4, it is assumed that one mobile station 201 of nnumber of mobile stations 201 can receive up to 6 services at the sametime. Here, the interface of each of the mobile stations 201 to the BSC202 includes information such as CON_REF or sr_id for correspondingservices in a SOCR (Service Option Connection Record), which isseparately controlled on the radio interface for each concurrentlyprovided service. The BSC 202 allocates one call based on theinformation such as CON_REF or sr_id about corresponding services, andaccordingly allocates a SOCI and a SCCP connection identifier SLR/DLR.Therefore, new service requests from each of the mobile stations 201 isinterfaced to each of the MSCs 203 as having one SCCP connectionidentifier SLR/DLR per mobile station, and one SOCI per service, inwhich the mobile station is provided with up to 6 services.

Therefore, the BSC 202, upon completing the SOCI allocation, transmits aCM Service Request/Page Response message that initiates aorigination/termination call setup procedure, including the SOCI,between the BSC and the MSC to set up a service option connectionbetween the BSC and the MSC, in which the No. 7 SCCP connectionestablishment procedures are required. This procedure is the same as thecall processing procedures in the related art digital cellular (secondgeneration) mobile communication system when the service is the firstservice for the corresponding mobile station.

Therefore, upon receiving a request for the first service from themobile station 201, the BSC 202 allocates the SOCI and the SCCPconnection identifier SLR/DLR to the mobile station 201. The BSC 202then transmits the No.7 SCCP Connection Request message, including anIOS Complete Layer 3 Information message having the SOCI and the SCCPconnection identifier SLR/DLR, to the MSC 203 to establish a SCCPconnection, so as to initiate the call setup procedure with the MSC 203for the corresponding mobile station. The MSC 203 transmits a SCCPConnection Confirm message in response to the No. 7 SCCP ConnectionRequest message to the BSC 202 to complete the SCCP connectionestablishment between the BSC 202 and the MSC.

Next, when the No. 7 SCCP connection for a corresponding mobile stationis already established, for example, when the corresponding service isnot the first one, and an additional service other than the currentlyprovided service is requested, only an additional service optionconnection is required. Therefore, the BSC 202 allocates the SOCI forthe additional service request of the mobile station 201 and exchangesmessages necessary for the additional service option connection setup.

Parameters preferably included in the service CM Service Requestmessage, which is transmitted from the BSC 202 to the MSC 203 toinitiate an originating call setup procedure, are shown in Table 1. Asshown in Table 1, SOCI parameters besides the parameters may also beincluded in the existing IOS standard according to the preferredembodiment. TABLE 1 Information elements Element Direction ProtocolDiscriminator BS → MSC Reserved - Octet BS → MSC Message Type BS → MSCCM Service Type BS → MSC Classmark Information Type 2 BS → MSC MobileIdentity (IMSI) BS → MSC Called Party BCD Number BS → MSC MobileIdentity (ESN) BS → MSC Slot Cycle Index BS → MSC AuthenticationResponse Parameter (AUTHR) BS → MSC Authentication ConfirmationParameter (RANDC) BS → MSC Authentication Parameter COUNT BS → MSCAuthentication Challenge Parameter (RAND) BS → MSC Service Option BS →MSC Voice Privacy Request BS → MSC Radio Environment and Resources BS →MSC Called Party ASCII Number BS → MSC Circuit Identity Code BS → MSCAuthentication Event BS → MSC Authentication Data BS → MSC PACAReorigination Indicator BS → MSC User Zone ID BS → MSC IS-2000 MobileCapabilities BS → MSC CDMA Serving One Way Delay BS → MSC SOCI (ServiceOption Connection Identifier) (Add) BS → MSC

Parameters included in the page response message, which is transmittedfrom the BSC 202 to the MSC 203 to initiate the terminating call setupprocedure, are shown Table 2, in which SOCI parameters besides theparameters may be also included in the existing IOS standard accordingto the preferred embodiment. TABLE 2 Information elements ElementDirection Protocol Discriminator BS → MSC Reserved - octet BS → MSCMessage Type BS → MSC Classmark Information Type 2 BS → MSC MobileIdentity (IMSI) BS → MSC Tag BS → MSC Mobile Identity (ESN) BS → MSCSlot Cycle Index BS → MSC Authentication Response Parameter (AUTHR) BS →MSC Authentication Confirmation Parameter (RANDC) BS → MSCAuthentication Parameter COUNT BS → MSC Authentication ChallengeParameter (RAND) BS → MSC Service Option BS → MSC Voice Privacy RequestBS → MSC Circuit Identity Code BS → MSC Authentication Event BS → MSCRadio Environment and Resources BS → MSC User Zone ID BS → MSC IS-2000Mobile Capabilities BS → MSC CDMA Serving One Way Delay BS → MSC SOCI(Service Option Connection Identifier) (Add) BS → MSC

In turn, the BSC 202 executes different call set up/release procedureson the basis of whether the request is for the first service from thespecific mobile station or from a subsequent request. This procedurewill be described in reference to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6.

Referring to FIG. 5, a request to set up a new service is first receivedfrom a specific station (Step S30). The BSC then determines whether therequested service request is the first service request for the specificmobile station (Step S31).

If the requested service request from the mobile station is the firstservice request, the BSC allocates a SCCP logical connection identifierSLR/DLR, which is dedicated to this mobile station, and the SOCI, whichis the service identifier of this mobile station (Step S32), andestablishes a SCCP logical connection with the MSC (Step S33).

Then, the BSC and the MSC exchange messages satisfying the callprocessing procedures using the established SCCP logical connection(Step S35). Here, the call processing messages include the SOCI, whichis the service identifier of the mobile station, and are exchangedthrough the SCCP logical signaling connection, which is discriminated bythe SCCP logical connection identifier SLR/DLR allocated to each mobilestation.

If, however, the requested service is not for the first service for thespecific mobile station, the BSC allocates a SOCI, which isdiscriminated from that of the previous service by using the SCCPlogical connection that has previously been established (Step S34). TheBSC and the MSC exchange the messages satisfying the call processingprocedures as described before (Step S35).

Next, referring to FIG. 6, a release procedure will be described. First,a request to release a service is received from a specific mobilestation (Step S40). The BSC then decides whether the requested serviceis the last service for the specific mobile station (Step S41). If theservice to be released is the last one, the previously established SCCPlogic connection is released (Step S43). If, however, the service to bereleased is not the last one, the SOCI for the corresponding service isreleased, and this SOCI value is available to be allocated to asubsequently requested service from this mobile station (Step S44).

Referring next to FIG. 7, a structure of a SOCI according to a preferredembodiment is described.

As shown in FIG. 7, a preferred SOCI format includes an A1 elementidentifier field in which the SOCI is transmitted, a length field of theA1 element identifier field, a reserved field, and a SOCI field. TheSOCI has an overall size of 3 octets (3×8 bits).

The A1 element identifier field and the length field are each 1 octet insize. The reserved field has the higher 5 bits in the remaining 1 octet,and the SOCI field has the lower 3 bits.

In addition to the call setup message, in the state that the SCCPconnection is set up between the BSC and the MSC, the SOCI canadditionally be included in transmitting an additional call setup andadditional service messages that are requested from a specific mobilestation. These additional call setup methods will be described withreference to the corresponding drawings.

Addition of a service for concurrent service is based upon the fact thatthe mobile station is currently being provided with at least oneservice. Therefore, it is assumed that the No. 7 SCCP connection isalready set up for the corresponding mobile station on the interfacebetween the BSC and the MSC.

Herein, two novel messages are defined for an additional service setupon the interface between the BSC and the MSC for concurrent service, inwhich a service is further provided when the mobile station is currentlyusing at least one service.

First, an Additional Service Request message is herein defined as amessage that is requested from the BSC to the MSC to further set up aspecific service, in addition to the service that the correspondingmobile station is currently using. Specifically, it is a messagerequesting that an additional service option connection between the BSCand the MSC for the corresponding mobile station.

Parameters included in the above-described Additional Service Requestmessage are shown in Table 3. TABLE 3 Information Elements ElementDirection Protocol Discriminator BS → MSC Reserved Octet BS → MSCMessage Type BS → MSC Called Party BCD Number BS → MSC Service Option BS→ MSC Voice Privacy Request BS → MSC Called Party ASCII Number BS → MSCCircuit Identity Code BS → MSC Global Call Emergency Indicator BS → MSCSOCI (Service Option Connection Identifier) BS → MSC

Second, an Additional Service Notification message is defined herein asa message from the MSC to the BSC notifying the BSC that it is requiredto set up a specific service in addition to the service that thecorresponding mobile station is currently using. Parameters included inthe above-described Additional Service Notification message are shown inTable 4. TABLE 4 Information Elements Element Direction Message Type BS→ MSC Mobile Identity (IMSI) BS → MSC Service Option BS → MSC

A procedure for concurrent service, in which a specific service is setup in addition to the current service, will be described next, withreference to three embodiments as shown in FIG. 8˜FIG. 10.

FIG. 8 shows a call setup procedure in which packet data service isrequested in addition to the current service used by the mobile stationaccording to a preferred embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 8, the mobile station first transmits an EnhancedOrigination message to the BSC by using a reverse dedicated signalingchannel (Step S50). This message is sent on the radio interface, andincludes a service option corresponding to packet data.

Upon receiving the Enhanced Origination message, the BSC transmits aBase Station Acknowledge Order message of a radio interface standard tothe mobile station (Step S51). It then allocates a SOCI for theadditional packet data service, and transmits a 3G-IOS AdditionalService Request message, including the SOCI and a packet data serviceoption, to the MSC (Step S52). This is done to request an additionalservice option connection setup for the corresponding mobile stationwith the MSC and to activate a timer T303.

Upon receiving the Additional Service Request message, the MSC does notallocate an additional conversation path, since the additional serviceis a packet data service. It does, however, transmit a 3G-IOS AllocationRequest message, which requests a radio resource allocation for theadditional packet data service, to the BSC (Step S53).

Upon receiving the Allocation Request message, the BSC stops the timerT303, and transmits a Call Allocation message of the radio interfacestandard to the mobile station by using a forward dedicated signalingchannel so that the mobile station may proceed with a call processingfor the additional packet data service (Step S54).

After transmitting the Call Allocation Message, the BSC sends onemessage selected from a group including SCM (Service Connect Message),GHDM (General Handoff Direction Message), and UHDM (Universal HandoffDirection Message) of the radio interface standard to the mobile stationto initialize a service option connection setup for the additionalpacket data service with the mobile station (Step S55).

Upon receiving the selected message (SCM, GHDM or UHDM), the mobilestation proceeds with a service negotiation procedure on the radiointerface standard with the BSC (Step S56). The mobile station thennotifies the BSC that the service option connection setup for the packetdata service is completed through a Service Connect Completion message(Step S57).

Upon receiving the Service Connect Completion message, after completionof the service option connection setup, the BSC transmits a 3G-IOSA9-Setup-A8 message to a packet control function (PCF). This is done torequest a packet bearer setup of an A8 interface (Step S58).

Upon receiving the A9-Setup-A8 message, the PCF performs an A10/A11interface connection setup procedure with a PDSN (Packet Data ServingNode) (Step S59).

When the A10/A11 interface setup is completed between the PCF and thePDSN, the PCF transmits a 3G-IOS A9-Connect-A8 message to the BSC toindicate that the packet bearer setup of the A8 interface is completed(Step S20).

After the packet bearer setup of the A8 interface is completed, the BSCtransmits a 3G-IOS Allocation Complete message to the MSC to notify thatthe packet data service is ready for initialization (Step S61).

Simultaneously with the Allocation Complete message transmission fromthe BSC to the MSC, the mobile station preferably performs a PPP(Point-to-Point Protocol) connection with the PDSN and a mobile IPregistration (Step S62).

The mobile station is PPP connected and allocated with a mobile IP sothat the mobile station is further provided with the packet data servicein addition to the current service (Step S63).

Referring next to FIG. 9, a call setup procedure in which voice callservice is requested in addition to the current service used by themobile station is described, according to a preferred embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 9, the mobile station first transmits an EnhancedOrigination message to the BSC by using the reverse dedicated signalingchannel (Step S70). This message is transmitted on the radio interfaceand includes a service option corresponding to a voice call.

Upon receiving the Enhanced Origination message, the BSC transmits aBase Station Acknowledge Order message of the radio interface standardto the mobile station (Step S71). The BSC then allocates a SOCI for theadditional voice call service, and transmits a 3G-IOS Additional ServiceRequest message, including the SOCI and a voice call service option, tothe MSC (Step S72). This is done to request an additional service optionconnection setup with the MSC for the mobile station and to activatetimer T303.

Upon receiving the Additional Service Request message, since theadditional service is a voice call, the MSC allocates conversation pathresources on the interface with the BSC and transmits a 3G-IOSAllocation Request message to the BSC (Step S73).

Upon receiving the Allocation Request message, the BSC stops the timerT303. It also transmits a Call Allocation message of the radio interfacestandard to the mobile station by using a forward dedicated signalingchannel so that the mobile station may proceed with a call process forthe additional voice call service (Step S74).

After transmitting the Call Allocation Message, the BSC sends onemessage selected from a group including SCM, GHDM, and UHDM of the radiointerface standard to the mobile station to initialize a service optionconnection setup for the additional voice call service with the mobilestation (Step S75).

Upon receiving the selected message (SCM, GHDM, or UHDM), the mobilestation proceeds with a service negotiation procedure on the radiointerface standard with the BSC (Step S76). The mobile station thennotifies the BSC that the service option connection setup for the voicecall service is completed through a Service Connect Completion message(Step S77).

Upon receiving the Service Connect Completion message, the BSC transmitsa 3G-IOS Allocation Complete message to the MSC, to indicate that aradio resource allocation and a conversation path setup between the BSCand the MSC for the voice call service are completed (Step S78).

Upon receiving the Allocation Complete message, the MSC transmits aRing-Back tone. The Ring-Back tone notifies the mobile station that thevoice call procedure has proceeded on the conversation path setup forthe voice call, and that a receiving subscriber side bell is ringing.Thus the calling subscriber can know that the bell is ringing to thereceiving subscriber (Step S79).

When the receiving subscriber recognizes the voice call and responds toit, the calling subscriber can speak with him/her, and thus the mobilestation is further provided with the voice call service in addition tothe service currently in use (Step S80).

Referring next to FIG. 10, a call setup procedure is described in whicha receiving voice call service is requested in addition to the currentservice used by the mobile station, according to a preferred embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 10, the MSC transmits a 3G-IOS Additional ServiceNotification message to the BSC, to further request a receiving voicecall service setup to the mobile station which is currently using a dataservice, and activates the timer T314 (Step S90).

Upon receiving the Additional Service Notification message, the BSCallocates a SOCI for the additional voice call service, and thentransmits a 3G-IOS Additional Service Request message, including theSOCI and a voice call service option, to the MSC to request anadditional service option connection setup for the corresponding mobilestation with the MSC and activate the timer T303 (Step S91).

Upon receiving the Additional Service Request message, the MSC stops thetimer T314, and allocates the conversation resources on the interfacewith the BSC for the additional voice call service. It also transmits a3G-IOS Allocation Request message to the BSC to request the radioresource allocation of the BSC for the additional voice call (Step S92).

Upon receiving the Allocation Request message, the BSC stops the timer303, and transmits a Call Allocation message to the mobile station ofthe radio interface standard using the forward dedicated signalingchannel. The mobile station may then proceed with a call process for theadditional voice call service (Step S93).

After transmitting the Call Allocation Message, the BSC sends onemessage selected from a group including SCM, GHDM, and UHDM of the radiointerface standard to the mobile station to initialize a service optionconnection setup for the additional voice call service with the mobilestation (Step S94).

Upon receiving the selected message (SCM, GHDM, or UHDM), the mobilestation proceeds with a service negotiation procedure on the radiointerface standard with the BSC (Step S95). The mobile station thennotifies the BSC that the service option connection setup for the voicecall service is completed through a Service Connect Completion message(Step S96).

Upon receiving the SCCM, the BSC transmits a 3G-IOS Allocation Completemessage to the MSC, indicating that a radio resource allocation and aconversation path setup between the BSC and the MSC for the voice callservice are completed (Step S97). The BSC then transmits an ExtendedAlert with Information message of the radio interface standard to themobile station so that the bell may ring, thereby notifying the mobilestation of the received voice call (Step S98).

Upon receiving the Extended Alert with Information message, the mobilestation responds to the BSC with a MS Acknowledge Order of the radiointerface standard to indicate receipt of the message. This means thatthe bell is ringing in the mobile station (Step S99).

If the subscriber recognizes and responds to the voice call, the mobilestation transmits an Connect Order of the radio interface standard tothe BSC (Step S100), and the BSC responds to the mobile station with aBS Acknowledge Order, indicating receipt of the Connect Order (StepS101). After that, the BSC transmits a 3G-IOS Connect message to the MSCto indicate that the subscriber responded to the received voice call(Step S102). The mobile station is thus provided with the voice callservice in addition to the currently established data service (StepS103).

Meanwhile, when one service is stopped and the other service iscontinuously used in the concurrent service, a release procedure isrequired for the service to be stopped. Therefore, two novel messagesrelated to release of any single service are herein defined on theinterface between the BSC and the MSC.

First, a Service Release message is defined as a message that requeststhe release of a specific service of the mobile station that is underthe concurrent service. The Service Release Message is sent from the BSCto the MSC or from the MSC to the BSC. The Service Release message isused only during the concurrent service to release a single message. Inturn, a conventional 3G-IOS Clear procedure is applied to release asingle service of the mobile station that is being provided only withthe single service.

In other words, the mobile station will still use a service even afterthe service release procedure. If the conventional clear procedure isperformed, the mobile station becomes idle without using any service.

Parameters included in the foregoing Service Release message are shownin Table 5. TABLE 5 Information Element Element Direction ProtocolDiscriminator BSC

MSC Reserved Octet BSC

MSC Message Type BSC

MSC SOCI (Service Option Connection Identifier) BSC

MSC Cause BSC

MSC Cause Layer 3 BSC

MSC

The second novel Release Message, the Service Release Complete message,is a message from the BSC to the MSC or the MSC to the BSC indicatingthat a release procedure is completed for a specific service requestedthrough the Service Release message. That is, it is a response messageto the Service Release message.

Parameters included in the Service Release Complete message are shown inTable 6. TABLE 6 Information Element Element Direction ProtocolDiscriminator BSC

MSC Reserved - Octet BSC

MSC Message Type BSC

MSC SOCI (Service Option Connection Identifier) BSC

MSC

A concurrent service call release procedure using the above definedService Release or Service Release Complete message in the mobileterminal will be described with reference to FIG. 11 and FIG. 12.

Referring to FIG. 11, a call release procedure is described in which aspecific service is released from a mobile station that is underconcurrent service, according to a preferred embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 11, the mobile station that is under concurrent service(Step S110) transmits one message selected from a group includingService Request message, Resource Release Request message, and ResourceRelease Request Mini message of the radio interface standard to the BSC(Step S111).

Upon receiving the selected one of the group including Service Requestmessage, Resource Release Request message, and Resource Release RequestMini message of radio interface standard, the BSC transmits a 3G-IOSService Release message, including a SOCI for a specific service, to theMSC for release of the resources allocated to the specific service. Thisinitializes a release procedure for the corresponding service of themobile station under concurrent service and activates a timer T308 (StepS112).

Upon receiving the Service Release message, the MSC releases all of theresources, including the SOCI and the conversation path resources, forthe corresponding service. The MSC then transmits a 3G-IOS ServiceRelease Complete message to the BSC, indicating completion of therelease procedure of the MSC for the corresponding service. Uponreceiving the 3G-IOS Service Release Complete message, the BSC stops thetimer T308 (Step S113).

The BSC then releases all of the resources, including the SOCI and theradio resources, for the corresponding service, and transmits onemessage selected from a group including SCM, GHDM, and UHDM to themobile station. This initializes a service option connection releaseprocedure for the corresponding service (Step S114).

Upon receiving the selected message (SCM, GHDM, or UHDM), the mobilestation proceeds to a service negotiation procedure on the radiointerface standard (Step S115). It then notifies the BSC that release ofthe service option connection is completed for the release requestedservice through a Service Connect Completion Message (Step S116).

Referring next to FIG. 12, a call release procedure is described inwhich a specific service is released from a switching station that isunder concurrent service, according to a preferred embodiment. As shownin FIG. 12, in order to release a specific single service of the mobilestation that is under concurrent service (Step S120), the MSC transmitsa 3G-IOS Service Release message to the BSC including a SOCI for theservice to be released. This initializes a release procedure for thecorresponding service of the mobile station, and activates the timerT308 (Step S121).

Upon receiving the Service Release message, the BSC transmits onemessage selected from a group including SCM, GHDM, and UHDM of the radiointerface standard to the mobile station to initialize a service optionconnection release procedure for the corresponding service with themobile station (Step S122).

Upon receiving the selected message (SCM, GHDM, or UHDM), the mobilestation proceeds with a service negotiation procedure on the radiointerface standard (Step S123). It then notifies the BSC that theservice option connection release is completed for the service to bereleased through a Service Connect Completion message (Step S124).

Upon receiving the Service Connect Completion message, the BSC releasesall of the resources including the SOCI and the radio resources for thecorresponding service. It also transmits a 3G-IOS Service ReleaseComplete message to the MSC indicating that the release procedure of theBSC for the corresponding service is completed, and the MSC stops thetimer T308 upon receiving the 3G-IOS Service Release Complete message(Step S125).

Next, according to a preferred embodiment, a definition of a novelmessage is proposed to add a method for enabling the receiving mobilestation to transfer the packet data and a procedure for reactivatingpacket data service. Specifically, a procedure to reactivate the packetdata service on the interface between the BSC and the MSC is added toset up the concurrent service when receiving packet data is generatedfrom the network side to the mobile station available for the concurrentservice in a state that the packet data service is dormant and the voicecall is active.

Referring to FIG. 13, a procedure of reactivating a receiving packetdata in a mobile station is described in which a packet data call isdormant and a voice call is activate, according to a preferredembodiment.

The mobile communication system of the invention preferably includes amobile station 301 for supporting the concurrent service, a BSC 302 forallocating the radio resource in response to a service request from themobile station 301, and a MSC 303 for controlling a call of the mobilestation. It also includes a PCF 304 for supporting the packet dataservice of the concurrent service, and a PDSN 305 interfacing with thePCF and routing the packet data transferred from the PCF or theInternet.

As shown in FIG. 13, the mobile station is in the state that the packetdata service is dormant and the voice call is being activated, and wherea PPP is set up with the PDSN (Step S131).

Also, it is assumed that the A10/A11 connection is set up between thePCF to which the mobile station belongs and that the PDSN is interfacedwith the PCF. It is also assumed that the voice call service isproceeding while the radio source and the conversation path source areallocated between the mobile station and the BSC or between the BSC andthe MSC. Also, it is assumed that the A9/A8 connection is not set upbetween the PCF and the BSC.

Therefore, upon receiving from the network the packet data which themobile station is supposed to receive, the PDSN uses the PPP and theA10/A11 connection maintained for the communication with thecorresponding mobile station to transmit the receiving packet datatraffic to the PCF (Step S132).

Upon receiving the packet data traffic, the PCF recognizes that thecorresponding mobile station is dormant, transmits a 3G-IOS A9-BSCService Request message to the BSC to reactivate the packet dataservice, and then activates a timer Tbsreq9 (Step S133).

Upon receiving the A9-BS Service Request message, the BSC allocates theSOCI for the packet data service, and then transmits a 3G-IOS AdditionalService Message to the MSC to additionally set up the packet data calland activates the timer T303 (Step S134). The Additional Service Requestmessage preferably includes the SOCI and the packet data service optionto set up the call for the packet data as described hereinbefore.

Upon receiving the Additional Service Request message, the MSC does notallocate the additional conversation path on the interface with the BSC,since the added service is packet data service. The MSC transmits the3G-IOS Allocation Request message requesting the radio source allocationand the A8 interface (user traffic) connection between the BSC and thePCF for the additional packet data service and then activates a timerT10 (Step S135).

Upon receiving the Allocation Request message, the BSC stops the timerT303 and transmits a 3G-IOS A9-BS Service Response message to the PCF toindicate that the reactivation of the packet data is proceeding (StepS136). According to this notification, the PCF stops the timer Tbsreq9.

Meanwhile, the BSC transmits the A9-BS Service Response message to thePCF and then transmits a Call Allocation Message of the radio interfacestandard by using the forward dedicated signaling channel so that themobile station can continue the call process for the reactivated packetdata service (Step S137). Also, the BSC transmits one message selectedfrom a group including SCM, GHDM, and UHDM to the mobile station toinitialize a service option connection setup for the additional packetdata service with the mobile station (Step S138).

Upon receiving the selected message (SCM, GHDM, or UHDM), the mobilestation continues the service negotiation procedure on the radiointerface standard (Step S139). It then notifies the BSC that theservice option connection is completed for the additional packet dataservice by sending a Service Connection Completion message (Step S140).

Upon receiving the Service Connection Completion message, after theservice option connection setup is completed, the BSC transmits a 3G-IOSA9-setup-A8(A9-Setup-A8) message to the PCR to request a packet bearerconnection setup of the A8 interface and activates a timer TA8-Setup(Step S141).

When the A8 connection setup is completed between the BSC and the PCF,the PCF transmits a 3G-IOS A9-Connect-A8 message, indicating that thepacket bearer setup of the A8 interface is complete (Step S142).

Upon receiving the A9-Connect-A8 message, the BSC transmits the 3G-IOSAllocation Complete message to the MSC, indicating that the packet dataservice is ready for initialization (Step S143).

The mobile station is thus additionally provided with the packet dataservice together with the currently provided voice call service, and thePCF transmits the packet data to the receiving mobile station (S144).

Parameters included in the “Connect” message, which is transmitted fromthe BSC to the MSC to report that the conversation state is set up inthe terminating mobile station, are shown in Table 7, in which the SOCIis additionally included in transmission. TABLE 7 Information elementsElement Direction Protocol Discriminator BS → MSC Reserved - Octet BS →MSC Message Type BS → MSC SOCI (Service Option Connection Identifier)(Add) BS → MSC

Parameters included in the “Progress” message, which is transmitted fromthe MSC to the mobile station for instructing to produce or clear alocal tone, are shown in Table 8, in which the SOCI is included intransmission. TABLE 8 Information elements Element Direction ProtocolDiscriminator BS → MSC Reserved - Octet BS → MSC Message Type BS → MSCSignal BS → MSC MS Information Records BS → MSC SOCI (Service OptionConnection Identifier) (Add) BS → MSC

Parameters included in the “Alert-with-Information” message transmittedto ring a bell of the mobile station from the MSC to the BSC are shownin Table 9, in which the SOCI is included with these parameters. TABLE 9Information elements Element Direction Protocol Discriminator MSC → BSReserved - Octet MSC → BS Message Type MSC → BS MS Information RecordsMSC → BS SOCI (Service Option Connection Identifier) (Add) MSC → BS

Parameters included in the “Flash-with-Information” message transmittedto MSC from the BSC to pass the supplementary service information fromthe mobile station are shown in Table 10, in which the SOCI is includedwith these parameters. This message may be sent from the MSC to the BSCfor some features. TABLE 10 Information elements Element DirectionProtocol Discriminator BS

MSC Reserved - Octet BS

MSC Message Type BS

MSC Called Party BCD Number BS

MSC Signal MSC

BS   Message Waiting Indication MSC

BS   Calling Party ASC Number MSC

BS   Tag MSC

BS   MS Information Records BS

MSC SOCI (Service Option Connection Identifier) (Add) BS

MSC

Parameters included in a “Flash-with-Information ACK” message that is anacknowledgment message to the “Flash-with Information” message are shownin Table 11, in which the SOCI is included with these parameters. TABLE11 Information elements Element Direction Protocol Discriminator BS →MSC Reserved - Octet BS → MSC Message Type BS → MSC Tag BS → MSC SOCI(Service Option Connection Identifier) (Add) BS → MSC

Parameters included in the “Rejection” message transmitted from the BSCto the MSC to report that the mobile station rejected the “Command”message are shown in Table 12, in which the SOCI is included with theseparameters. TABLE 12 Information elements Element Direction ProtocolDiscriminator BS → MSC Reserved - Octet BS → MSC Message Type BS → MSCMobile Identity (IMSI) BS → MSC Mobile Identity (ESN) BS → MSC IS - 2000Cause Value BS → MSC SOCI (Service Option Connection Identifier) (Add)BS → MSC

The invention described hereinabove and broadly described in the claimshas many advantages. For example, it efficiently provides concurrentservice, which is an essential function of the third generation mobilecommunication network in a multimedia environment. Additionally, itminimizes the conventional call processing procedures on the interfacebetween the BSC and the MSC, thereby allowing a subscriber to use a newservice without stopping the current service. It also allows asubscriber to concurrently use a plurality of services, such as voiceand packet data services. Furthermore, the invention can flexiblyconfront future development directions of a communications network.

The foregoing embodiments and advantages are merely exemplary and arenot to be construed as limiting the present invention. The presentteaching can be readily applied to other types of apparatuses. Thedescription of the present invention is intended to be illustrative, andnot to limit the scope of the claims. Many alternatives, modifications,and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. In theclaims, means-plus-function clauses are intended to cover the structuresdescribed herein as performing the recited function and not onlystructural equivalents but also equivalent structures.

1-40. (canceled)
 41. A method for providing concurrent services in amobile communication system in which each of a plurality of subscriberscommunicates with another subscriber or another service provider using amobile switching center (MSC), comprising: maintaining a plurality ofconcurrent services for a subscriber unit over a single logicalsignaling connection, at least one of the services being an activecircuit based service and at least one of the services being a dormantpacket data service; re-activating the dormant packet service using anidentifier for the subscriber unit and an identifier for the dormantpacket service if data is transmitted to the subscriber unit over thedormant packet data service; and transmitting the data to the subscriberunit using the re-activated packet data service.
 42. The method of claim41, wherein re-activating the dormant packet service comprises: sendingan A9-BSC service request message from a Packet Control Function (PCF)to a base station controller (BSC) to reactivate the packet dataservice; sending an Additional Service Request message from the BSC tothe MSC to set up the packet data service as a service among theplurality of services; sending an assignment request message from theMSC to the BSC to request assignment of radio resources and an A8 usertraffic connection between the BSC and the PCF for the packet dataservice; sending an A9-BS Service Response message from the BSC to thePCF to indicate that the reservation of the packet data is proceeding;sending a Call Allocation message from the BSC to the subscriber unit toinitiate call processing for the packet data service in the subscriberunit; sending one of a Service Connect message, an Universal HandoffDirection message, and a General Handoff Direction message from the BSCto the subscriber unit to invoke the additional service optionconnection; performing a service negotiation procedure between the BSCand the subscriber unit; sending a Service Connect Completion from thesubscriber unit to the BSC to indicate that the service optionconnection is completed for the additional packet data service; sendingan A9 Setup A8 message from the BSC to the PCF to establish an A8 usertraffic connection between the BSC and the PCF over the A9 signalingconnection; sending an A9 Connect A8 message from the PCF to the BSC tocomplete the setup of the A8 user traffic connection; sending anAssignment Complete message from the BSC to the MSC to indicate that theradio link and an A10 connection have been established and packet dataservice is ready.
 43. The method if claim 42, wherein after sending theA9-BSC service request message from the PCF to the BSC, the BSCallocates a service identifier for the packet data service. 44.(canceled)
 45. A method for providing concurrent services in a wirelesscommunication system, the method comprising: maintaining a plurality ofconcurrent services with a mobile station using a single logicalsignaling connection, at least one of the services being a circuit basedservice and at least one of the services being a packet data service,wherein the packet data service is in a dormant state, and the circuitbased service corresponds to a first service identifier and the packetdata service corresponds to a second service identifier; re-initiating apacket data traffic to the mobile station; re-activating the packet dataservice to the mobile station using the second service identifier,wherein a base station controller (BSC) requests the packet data serviceby providing the second service identifier to a mobile switching center(MSC); providing the circuit based service and the packet data servicebetween the mobile station and the BSC on the same logical signalingconnection between the BSC and the MSC by using the correspondingservice identifier of each of the services; and transmitting packet datato the mobile station using the re-activated packet data service. 46.The method of claim 45, the step of re-activating the packet dataservice comprises: requesting an additional service request from BSC toMSC; providing an assignment request from MSC to BSC, the assignmentrequesting comprising the second service identifier corresponding to thepacket data service; providing an assignment message from BSC to themobile station; providing a service negotiation control message to themobile station; and performing a service negotiation for the packet dataservice with the mobile station.
 47. The method of claim 46, wherein theservice negotiation control message comprises at least one of a ServiceConnect message, a General Handoff Direction message, and a UniversalHandoff Direction message from the BSC to a subscriber unit.
 48. Themethod of claim 46, wherein the additional service request comprises atleast one of a service option and a service option connectionidentifier.
 49. The method of claim 45, wherein the logical signalingconnection comprises a signaling connection control part (SCCP)connection between the BSC and the MSC, and wherein the logicalsignaling connection further comprises a source local referencenumber/destination local reference number (SLR/DLR).
 50. The method ofclaim 45, wherein each of the first and second service identifierscomprises an interface element identifier field, a length field, and aservice option connection identifier field.
 51. A system for providingconcurrent services in a wireless communication system, the systemcomprising: means for maintaining a plurality of concurrent serviceswith a mobile station using a single logical signaling connection, atleast one of the services being a circuit based service and at least oneof the services being a packet data service, wherein the packet dataservice is in a dormant state, and the circuit based service correspondsto a first service identifier and the packet data service corresponds toa second service identifier; means for re-initiating a packet datatraffic to the mobile station; means for re-activating the packet dataservice to the mobile station using the second service identifier,wherein a base station controller (BSC) requests the packet data serviceby providing the second service identifier to a mobile switching center(MSC); means for providing the circuit based service and the packet dataservice between the mobile station and the BSC on the same logicalsignaling connection between the BSC and the MSC by using thecorresponding service identifier of each of the services; and means fortransmitting packet data to the mobile station using the re-activatedpacket data service.
 52. The system of claim 51, the means forre-activating the packet data service comprises: means for requesting anadditional service request from BSC to MSC means for providing anassignment request from MSC to BSC, the assignment requesting comprisingthe second service identifier corresponding to the packet data service;means for providing an assignment message from BSC to the mobilestation; means for providing a service negotiation control message tothe mobile station; and means for performing a service negotiation forthe packet data service with the mobile station.
 53. The system of claim52, wherein the service negotiation control message comprises at leastone of a Service Connect message, a General Handoff Direction message,and a Universal Handoff Direction message from the BSC to a subscriberunit.
 54. The method of claim 52, wherein the additional service requestcomprises at least one of a service option and a service optionconnection identifier.
 55. The method of claim 51, wherein the logicalsignaling connection comprises a signaling connection control part(SCCP) connection between the BSC and the MSC, and wherein the logicalsignaling connection further comprises a source local referencenumber/destination local reference number (SLR/DLR).
 56. The method ofclaim 45, wherein each of the first and second service identifierscomprises an interface element identifier field, a length field, and aservice option connection identifier field.